Page 205 of As the Rain Falls
Like, she spentyearsbuilding that armor, perfecting it. You can’t easily break it now, not after what she survived. It’s in her long dark hair, her bare face. In the way Angelina walks like she knows she’s a problem, but she doesn’t even care. You push her down nine times; she stands up ten.
People like her are relentless, but I’m not.I give up the fight before it even begins.
She and Lucia probably related to each other a lot in that sense. Strong girls stick together, don’t they? But what’s the point of being strong when it only gets you killed? What’s the point of standing up for injustice when it will only get you murdered? Isn’t it better to be like me, this weak and cowardly thing, who deserves nothing but death?
“Are you done?” I ask, adrenaline thrumming through my veins. “Do you need to slap me again to feel better about yourself?”
“Stop!” her voice breaks.
“Go ahead,” I challenge her. “It’s not like I can’t take it, right?”
What’s a beating done by a girl compared to the punches of a man who’s almost a decade older than you are?
“No! What are you looking at me for? I just… I just wanted to get out of this house!”
Angelina waits for me to answer.
Bite her back with the same kind of venom.
A silent invitation.
Are you a strong girl too?
My gaze lowers to her arms, but she quickly hides the scars from me with her sweater. I wonder what Lucia would think of that and if she’d regret ever trying to save me, considering what her death did to her best friend.
We reach the bridge, and Nathaniel asks me to get out of the car. I don’t want to. I’m scared he’ll leave me and drive back to Port des Ondes. He tells me I have to do it if I want to understand. I have to get out of the car first, and then he’ll show it to me.
Before I know it, I’m running for my life, and he’s chasing me with the car. I think he’ll hit me. And if he does, I might die.
Somebody slams on the door.
“Yo, I’m not trying to be an asshole, but I really need to pee right this second!”
Angelina wipes her tears, pulling herself back together.
I motion to unlock the door, my hand pausing mid-air. “Tell me you have a way to get us out of here.”
She chokes out a laugh, “I have to send a text first, but I don’t have my phone.”
“That’s fine by me.”
I just nod, giving her mine.
***
A honk sounds from outside.
“Bro, Maria just pulled in!”
Angelina announces, looking at me pointedly. We’re hiding in Caleb’s room, waiting for our ride. I’m counting the split ends of my hair, and she’s keeping watch by the window. “Caleb is greeting her outside. Oh my god! They just kissed!”
“Did they?”
“Using tongue and everything! What a fucking joke, don’t you think?”
I smile to myself. Things are back the way they should be.
“Are you okay with that?” she asks, barely concealing a laugh. “I’m sorry, but this is too funny!”
